Reaction From Across the Land

[Statler]

In looking at other fan websites and forums, Thad's documentary is getting rave reviews from everywhere.

It is fascinating to see the Big Ten teams' forum reactions like Michigan State - they all talk about how they didn't know how great SMU was back then and that noone well ever get the DP. On the SEC forum of course the draw the parallels to Auburn's situation.

The Aggies think it was a hit piece funded by a UT alumn (man are they paranoid), but the most comments are about Greg Hood pulling his sabre. The UT folks think that it is a hit piece on them...(Boy is this great or what!!!)

The tcuseless folks of course are saying...well you know what those folks are saying....

[ponyte]

We have the record for decades to show that we ran a clean program. Sure, things were out of control 2 decades ago but now it will be other schools that get caught. The NCAA will never again give the DP regardless of the infractions.

That is too bad cause there will be schools that earn the DP.

[SmooBoy]

From texags.com

"I wasn't really familiar with the whole situation at all.

However, after watching this I must say that SMU comes out looking pretty good for some strange reason.

I can't explain it but if I were a recruit and I watched this I might think about giving SMU a second look."

[CalallenStang]

From texags.com

"I wasn't really familiar with the whole situation at all.

However, after watching this I must say that SMU comes out looking pretty good for some strange reason.

I can't explain it but if I were a recruit and I watched this I might think about giving SMU a second look."

Because we are now the underdog, and everyone loves an underdog

[horseshoe hilltop]

I liked this comment I found:

"Man I might fire up NCAA and take SMU back to national prominence."

[redpony]

I hope a few HS players saw this and are on the phone to JJ Mon. wanting an opportunity to help bring greatness back to SMU.

GO PONIES!!!

[ponyscott]

From texags.com

"I wasn't really familiar with the whole situation at all.

However, after watching this I must say that SMU comes out looking pretty good for some strange reason.

I can't explain it but if I were a recruit and I watched this I might think about giving SMU a second look."

No question that it may have secured some recruits that were maybe on the fence and made some more out there look at us much more closely and some recruits that never thought of SMU just even look at us.....this is now a great historical recruiting tool with major TV celebrities talking SMU up....

[Hoop Fan]

sorry, i don't see this helping us in any way. the story was rightfully told in documentary form and very well done for sure. Brent Musburger was a surprising commentator and balanced. Way too many comments though from Hansen and others expressing total skepticim that any recruit would possibly ever pick SMU over a "UT, A&M or Texas Tech". As if SMU really doesn't have anything going for it to attract recruits without giving money. But TCU does? Baylor does? We got fried by the Newspaper War in our backyard. Surprising to see how tuned into that point Musburger was.

[soccermom]

I've never been a Musburger fan but like him a little more after watching last night.

[mrydel]

sorry, i don't see this helping us in any way. the story was rightfully told in documentary form and very well done for sure. Brent Musburger was a surprising commentator and balanced. Way too many comments though from Hansen and others expressing total skepticim that any recruit would possibly ever pick SMU over a "UT, A&M or Texas Tech". As if SMU really doesn't have anything going for it to attract recruits without giving money. But TCU does? Baylor does? We got fried by the Newspaper War in our backyard. Surprising to see how tuned into that point Musburger was.

To listen to the past Pony Express players saying they are excited that SMU is back and on the rise is in itself enough to give a positive spin to the show. Recruits got to see first hand how good we were and hear from the players that made us that good that we are coming back. I felt it was a very positive message inside of a very negative story.

[Longtime]

Myrdel's got it right.

A 17-year-old high school football stud has never seen SMU when it was a bad-a$$ program (regardless of how it got there). Kids are all visual. For them, the lasting image from Pony Excess will be that SMU was a hell of a football program - all the big hits, touchdowns, Dickerson and James doing their thang. It won't be a few snarky comments about why would someone choose SMU over UT or A&M.

I'm sure we're selling recruits on SMU being a Top 25 program. Now we've got the visuals to go with it. It's not just a bunch of words from a sweet-talking coach. It really happened at SMU, therefore it could happen again.

[SMU89]

Myrdel's got it right.

A 17-year-old high school football stud has never seen SMU when it was a bad-a$$ program (regardless of how it got there). Kids are all visual. For them, the lasting image from Pony Excess will be that SMU was a hell of a football program - all the big hits, touchdowns, Dickerson and James doing their thang. It won't be a few snarky comments about why would someone choose SMU over UT or A&M.

Also that SMU is in a big and powerful city - Dallas - that loves football and will support winners.

[reddevil]

Bottom line, Pony Excess has people talking about SMU football, something that hasn't been done in a long time. This alone makes it a good recruiting tool.

[CalallenStang]

Frog board has some nice things to say about it:

http://www.killerfrogs.com/msgboard/ind ... 8071&st=30

But, was the best 30 for 30. And that is saying a lot because all of the 30 for 30's have been outstanding.

[Big Frog II]

It was a very well done. It makes me sad that the SWC is no longer around.

P.S. Thad, get ready to do the Cam Newton/Auburn story. That too should be interesting.